Police officer Carmichael Williamson convicted of rapes in Shetland
Carmichael John Williamson, 32, of Burra, a Police Scotland officer, was found guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh of raping a teenage girl and a second woman. Sentencing is set for 8 December.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Carmichael John Williamson, known as John Williamson, a 32-year-old police officer from Burra, was found guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh of raping a teenage girl and a woman in Shetland. BBC NewsN “A police officer has been found guilty of raping a teenage girl and a woman in Shetland.” Read at BBC News ↗ GB NewsR “Carmichael John Williamson, 32, from Burra, was found guilty of the crimes in the Shetland area, following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.” Read at GB News ↗ Centre · 1The BBC reported that he was found to have engaged in sexual activity with a girl when she was under age in 2014 and to have raped her between 2014 and 2015, and that he raped a second woman in 2020 and again in 2022 when she was intoxicated and unable to consent. BBC NewsN “Williamson, of Burra, also raped a second woman in 2020 and again in 2022 when she was intoxicated and unable to consent.” Read at BBC News ↗ Right · 1GB News said he had denied three rape charges and a further charge of having sex with a child under 16, and that the court heard he had sex with a 15-year-old girl on multiple occasions between April and September 2014. GB NewsR “after denying three rape charges and a further charge of having sex with a child under 16”“had sex with a 15-year-old girl on multiple occasions between April and September 2014” Read at GB News ↗
Mixed · 2He was remanded in custody, with sentencing deferred until 8 December; GB News also said he was placed on the sex offenders' register. BBC NewsN “remanded in custody after the jury delivered their verdict at the High Court in Edinburgh, with sentencing deferred until 8 December” Read at BBC News ↗ GB NewsR “He was placed on the sex offenders’ register and remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on December 8.” Read at GB News ↗ Centre · 1Williamson was initially charged with nine offences, but the Crown dropped five before closing speeches, according to the BBC. BBC NewsN “Williamson was initially charged with nine offences, but five were dropped by the Crown before the closing speeches were delivered.” Read at BBC News ↗ Mixed · 2Judge John Morris KC described the trial as "anxious and distressing" (BBC) or "very distressing" (GB News), and GB News said he told jurors counselling was available. BBC NewsN “Judge John Morris KC described it as an "anxious and distressing" trial.” Read at BBC News ↗ GB NewsR “Judge John Morris KC described the case as "very distressing", and told jurors counselling was available should they need support.” Read at GB News ↗
Centre · 1Williamson cried in the dock as the verdict was read and, handcuffed, said "I love you" to his partner as he was led away, the BBC reported. BBC NewsN “He was handcuffed and said "I love you" to his partner as he was led away.” Read at BBC News ↗ Right · 1In evidence, the woman said that on the 2022 occasion sexual activity took place after they went behind a community hall during a wedding celebration, that she had drunk a lot of alcohol, and that she was slapped. Williamson denied any sexual contact that night, saying "We were outside", and denied having sex with the girl before she turned 16 or recording her on a tablet. GB NewsR “She also told the court she had been slapped during the incident.”“Williamson denied that any sexual contact had taken place with the woman on the night of the wedding celebration”“rejected allegations that he had used a tablet computer to record her performing a sex act on him” Read at GB News ↗ Right · 1Police Scotland said Williamson was arrested, charged and suspended from duty on 10 January 2024. It said he was a special constable during the offences against the girl in 2014 and 2015 and a serving officer during those in 2020 and 2022. GB NewsR “Police Scotland confirmed Williamson was arrested, charged and suspended from duty on January 10 2024.”“The force said he had been a special constable at the time of the offences involving the teenage girl in 2014 and 2015, and a serving officer during the attacks in 2020 and 2022.” Read at GB News ↗
Right · 1Detective Superintendent Stevie Bertram of Police Scotland's public protection unit called violence against women and girls a "national emergency", commended the victims' strength in reporting, and said the force would investigate officers whether serving or retired, on or off duty. GB NewsR “Reports of violence against women and girls are rising and it is of the utmost importance for Police Scotland to play its part in tackling this national emergency.”“I want to reassure the public we will identify and investigate these officers whether they are serving or retired, or whether their crimes are committed on-duty or, as in this instance, off-duty.” Read at GB News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Short breaking-news report focused on the verdict, the charges proven, and courtroom reaction.
- Emphasis
- Verdict, dates of offences, remand, the dropped charges and Williamson's emotional reaction.
- Leaves out or plays down
- No Police Scotland statement, trial testimony, or his employment status and suspension.
- For example
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“Williamson, who had denied the offences, cried in the dock when the guilty verdict was read out.” — BBC News
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Fuller report that leads on a serving police officer being convicted and carries the force's response.
- Emphasis
- Police Scotland's statement, trial testimony from the woman and Williamson, his career and suspension, and the sex offenders' register.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the five charges dropped by the Crown.
- Charged language
- “national emergency”
What every side reports
- Carmichael John Williamson, 32, of Burra, was found guilty of raping a teenage girl and a woman in Shetland.
- The verdict came at the High Court in Edinburgh, and he was remanded in custody.
- Sentencing is on 8 December.
- Judge John Morris KC called the trial distressing.
- Williamson denied the offences.
Carmichael John Williamson person
Williamson denied all the offences at trial; he rejected that sexual contact took place on the night of the wedding and that he had sex with the girl before she turned 16.
“Williamson said: "I have no recollection of ever recording any of our sexual encounters."” — GB News
“Williamson, who had denied the offences, cried in the dock when the guilty verdict was read out.” — BBC News
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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Police officer guilty of raping teenage girl and woman in Shetland
Neutral Brief factual breaking-news report of the verdict and courtroom scene.
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Right1 article
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GB NewsR ·
Police Scotland officer found guilty of raping teenage girl and woman
Neutral Detailed report stressing the officer's status and Police Scotland's pledge to root out offenders.
- 15 Oct 11:49 First BBC NewsN Police officer guilty of raping teenage girl and woman in Shetland
- 15 Oct 15:11 +3h 22m GB NewsR Police Scotland officer found guilty of raping teenage girl and woman
- 15 Oct 16:07 +4h 19m Evening StandardN Serving Police Scotland officer convicted of rape and sexual offences
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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